This is just as the deceased’s family accused Umukoro of masterminding the death of their daughter, saying he had always threatened to kill her. It had initially been reported that Peace allegedly took her own life over her husband’s alleged infidelity.

The 32-year-old mother of two was reported to have died after allegedly taking insecticide when she returned home from work. But Umukoro said the allegations against him were unfounded, adding that they were in good term.

He said the late Peace had complained of some debts she incurred after “overposting” funds to some customers. “One happened in January and the amount was about N100,000.

She called me and asked for my help and I sent N50,000 to her. I told her that I would send the balance when another one happened in February. She complained that she was getting tired of the debts,” he added.

Umukoro, a journalist with a broadcast station, claimed that his wife sent him a message on WhatsApp, asking him to take care of their children, a few hours to her death.

The journalist also released a voice note of a conversation he had with Peace and their children a day to the incident in which they spoke cheerfully. But the family on Monday, said they believed that the husband was responsible for the death of the first class graduate of Accounting of the Delta State University Abraka.

An elder brother of the deceased, Maxwell Johnmark, alleged that Umukoro had once threatened to kill Peace. He added that the two children left behind by the deceased were witnesses.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, said the matter was being investigated to unravel whether it was a case of homicide or suicide.